Swiitzerland's Ralph Näf dominated at the Swisspower Cup in Gränichen (SUI) and won the race in a superior style in front of Martin Gujan and Lukas Flückiger. It is Näfs first victory after a unlucky start to the season and he feels now very optimistic toward the upcoming world cup races in Andorra and Scotland. "My top form was essential today and my Merida 96 made me a winner" Ralph Näf said after the race. He is now ready to attack in one week at the world cup in Andorra.

In second round of the German Cross-Country-Bundesliga, Austrian Christoph Soukup took the win ahead of Moritz Milatz (Ger) and Julien Absalon (Fra). The women's race saw Ivonne Kraft (Ger) cross the finish line six seconds ahead of Sabrina Enaux (Fra). Hanna Klein (Ger) took third.

Spectators lined the side of the track at the BiketheRock-Festival in Heubach, cheering the along the steep climbs and the difficult downhill sections. Early on Christoph Soukup and Moritz Milatz took the lead ahead of Julien Absalon. The four time world champion, coming off of a hard training week, was not able to follow them."They were too strong for me today but I enjoyed the race with all the spectators around", Absalon said after the race. Absalon finished third, while Soukup was able to drop Milatz in lap five. "My legs worked really fine in the uphill and for me it's a great pleasure to win Heubach because it is a wonderful event, hardly comparable to othersÃ¢â‚¬Å¾, Soukup commented.

Milatz, returning after some difficult weeks with illness was glad to be competitive again. "Christoph was much stronger in the climb but I'm okay with my shape, looking forward to the world cup in Andorra."

Kraft faster in the downhill sections

In women's race Ivonne Kraft used her technical skills to beat Sabrina Enaux by six seconds. When the pair reached the top Enaux was always close to Kraft. But he 37 year old German was much faster in the tricky and steep downhill. "I'm happy to feel my body again in this way", Kraft said after the race. Since Cape Epic, which Kraft won in the mixed category together with Nico Pfitzenmaier, she never was really healthy and noted some bad results in worldcup round one to three.

Enaux was not unhappy to take second place, and is now leading the Bundesliga overall.

In third position was U23 rider Hanna Klein, but she was 5 41 behind Kraft.

Gunn-Rita Dahle (Nor) was not able to start due to problems resulting from a crash at Houffalize.

Irina Kalentieva (Rus) started, but has been sick since the European Championships and has been on antibiotics. The world champion lives most of the year in Aalen, which is only ten kilometres from Heubach. So she decided to be at the start and but dropped out of the race after two laps. "I like this race and there are a lot of fans. So I was anxious to to be here", she said. Kalentieva and Dahle are both possible non starters at the Andorra worldcup.

Elisabeth Osl (Aut) crashed on Saturday while training and was not able to be at the start.